Abstract: An improved diaphragm substantially resistant to abrasive wear for use in certain applications in which at least a portion of such diaphragm is in contact with another surface which would tend to abrade such diaphragm, such diaphragm comprising at least one layer of a flexible material selected from a group including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, fabric reinforced rubber, plastic and mixtures thereof and an abrasion resistant polymeric material having a predetermined thickness. This abrasion resistant polymeric material is adhered to such diaphragm at least in the portion that such diaphragm is in contact with another surface and is subject to abrasion. This type of abrasion generally occurs in the flange area of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A power door operator for mounting overhead of a door opening in a mass transit vehicle for moving a door panel over and away from the door opening, including a base plate incorporating a rotary helical drive internal of a door hanger. The door panel is locked in a closed position by primary and secondary means preventing drive rotation and panel movement.

Abstract: An electronic load weigh device is used with a railcar truck control unit. A relay valve provides to a brake cylinder a pressure proportional to the pressure impinging upon its control port. A first feedback signal is indicative of the pressure at the control port. A second feedback signal is indicative of the load borne by the truck. A pressure switch opens when pressure within a trainline changes to a level indicative of an emergency. By controlling the opening and closing of application and release magnet valves, a controller controls the pressure impinging on the control port and thereby service braking of the wheels of the truck. The load weigh device includes (i) circuitry for electronically compensating for the load during braking and (ii) a mechanism for granting the circuitry exclusive control over the magnet valves. Should such emergency occur, the mechanism responds to such emergency by disconnecting the controller from the magnet valves.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes first and second valve bodies. The first body defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. In the passage, a first valve atop a valve stem features a poppet head that is seatable against an outer valve seat. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. The second body defines a bore between its upper and lower threaded ends which communicates with the passage. The upper threaded end connects with the threaded end of the first body whereas the lower threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In the bore, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a seal element that is seatable against an inner valve seat.

Abstract: A unique, inexpensive and easily manufactured check valve device features a valve housing, a valve seat, a resilient ring seal, a retaining sleeve, a valve member and a valve spring. The valve housing defines an inlet channel, an outlet channel and at least one valve bore through which the inlet and outlet channels interconnect. Formed in the valve bore is the valve seat. The valve seat has a generally flat annular surface from within which an opening emerges into a preferred one of the two channels. The resilient ring seal is situated atop, and is coaxial with the opening defined by, the flat annular surface of the valve seat. Situated within the valve bore, the retaining sleeve serves to retain the resilient ring seal by its periphery against the flat annular surface of the valve seat. The valve member is moveable within the retaining sleeve. By its head portion at one end, the valve member is adapted to be pressed against, and form a leak-proof seal with, the resilient ring seal.

Abstract: The invention is a brake shoe for application to the rim of a brake disc for retarding a rotary motion of the brake disc. The brake shoe has one or more brakepads having a pair of pad friction surfaces for contact with friction surfaces on the brake disc. The pair of pad friction surfaces are sloped in opposition to each other, and have an open space located between the pad friction surfaces. The brake shoe has a pad support structure to which the brakepad or brakepads are attached, the pad support structure serving to press the brake pad or brakepads against the friction surfaces on the brake disc. The pad support structure has a portion thereof for mounting on a device for positioning the brake shoe and for moving the brakepad or brakepads into engagement with the disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight sleeve and spool arrangement for use in certain pumps. Such lightweight sleeve and spool arrangement comprises a sleeve having a predetermined number of apertures and having a predetermined interior diameter. The sleeve is formed from a first predetermined plastic material selected from a group consisting of nylons, acetals, polysulfones, polyesters, polyetherimides and polyamide-imines. There is also a spool that has a predetermined configuration and a predetermined exterior diameter. Such predetermined exterior diameter being about 0.0005 inches smaller than the predetermined interior diameter of such sleeve. The spool is formed from a second predetermined plastic material selected from a group consisting of nylons, acetals, polysulfones, polyesters, polyetherimides and polyamide-imines.

Abstract: A cable operated piston travel indicator for readily viewing an amount of piston travel of a fluid actuated cylinder assembly positioned in a remote location is provided. The cable operated piston travel indicator of the invention is particularly applicable in the railway vehicle braking industry as an aid in performing pre-departure terminal tests of the air braking equipment of each car of the train. The cable operated piston travel indicator comprises an inner movable cable which is associated and movable with a piston. An outer shielding member encloses this inner movable cable and includes a clear cap with an indicating device thereon for viewing the movement of the inner cable member with respect to the indicating device. The end of the shielding member which includes the indication device thereon may be placed at a readily viewable location so that the amount of piston travel may be easily viewed at any time.

Abstract: An improved diaphragm substantially resistant to abrasive wear for use in certain applications in which at least a portion of such diaphragm is in contact with another surface which would tend to abrade such diaphragm, such diaphragm comprising at least one layer of a flexible material selected from a group including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, fabric reinforced rubber, plastic and mixtures thereof and an abrasion resistant polymeric material having a predetermined thickness. This abrasion resistant polymeric material is adhered to such diaphragm at least in the portion that such diaphragm is in contact with another surface and is subject to abrasion. This type of abrasion generally occurs in the flange area of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A carrier plate assembly for use in a slackless drawbar assembly to connect together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars. The carrier plate assembly includes a carrier plate member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A crushable support member has a bottom surface thereof engageable with at least a portion of the top surface of such carrier plate member. There is an aperture formed through the crushable support member and an anchoring mechanism is engageable with the carrier plate member and extends through such aperture formed in the crushable support member for securing a locking wedge member to the carrier plate in such slackless drawbar assembly. The anchoring mechanisms including at least a threaded portion for at least one of receiving a nut thereon and for threadedly engaging a threaded aperture formed in the locking wedge member to enable tightening of such locking wedge member to the carrier plate.

Abstract: In a centrifugal separator for separating a liquid from a compressed gas, a baffle is provided to separate the centrifugal chamber into an upper sub-chamber and a lower sub-chamber but does not contact the walls of the chamber thereby being insufficient to prevent downward flow of separated liquid along the interior wall of the two sub-chambers, and insufficient to prevent flow of compressed gas from one sub-chamber to the other sub-chamber, the baffle nevertheless being sufficient to prevent turbulent gas flow in the lower sub-chamber when collected liquid is drained therefrom.

Abstract: A dual valve fitting enables quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing. The fitting includes a valve body, a valve retainer, first and second sealing rings and a biasing mechanism. The valve body defines a flow passage within which is situated the valve retainer. The valve body is designed at its protuberant end to mate with a female coupler of a quick connect device and at its threaded end to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. The valve retainer defines around itself first and second annular recesses each of which spaced apart from the other to match the spacing of outer and inner annular valve seats formed in the flow passage. Forming a first valve, the first sealing ring retains in the first annular recess so as to be seatable against the outer valve seat. Forming a second valve, the second sealing ring retains in the second annular recess so as to be seatable against the inner valve seat.

Abstract: A control system reduces the amount of gas lost as sweep gas from a membrane gas dryer. The membrane gas dryer is of the type that features an inlet end that receives moisture laden gas from a compressor, an outlet end from which dried gas is discharged to a pneumatic component and a drain port from which permeate sweep gas inclusive of permeate water vapor is expelled from the gas dryer. The control system includes a purge valve that is connected to the drain port of the gas dryer and a mechanism that controls the purge valve. The purge valve has a pilot port that responds to pressure by closing the purge valve thereby preventing the permeate sweep gas from exhausting to atmosphere through the drain port.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diaphragm having a generally truncated conical body for use in diaphragm actuating piston assemblies, such diaphragm comprising at least one layer of an elastomeric material selected from a group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, fabric reinforced rubber and mixtures thereof. There is further a first central opening, having a first predetermined diameter, disposed at a first edge of such diaphragm for mounting on a diaphragm actuating piston, such first central opening being formed by a bead like portion having a second predetermined diameter. There is further included a second central opening, having a third predetermined diameter, disposed at a second edge of such diaphragm for mounting on a body portion of such diaphragm actuating piston assembly, such second central opening being formed by a bead like portion having a fourth predetermined diameter.

Abstract: An improved method is used to control the pressure in the IAR pipe of a train. The train is typically equipped with an independent brake handle, a control reservoir, an IAR control portion and a computer for controlling the IAR control portion generally according to position of the brake handle. The method involves the steps of: moving the brake handle to a point along its range of motion; and storing in the computer as a setpoint the value desired for the pressure within the IAR pipe. At whichever point the brake handle occupies along its range of motion, there is a particular pressure setpoint corresponding thereto. The method next includes the steps of: directing the computer to modify the actual pressure in the control reservoir to the setpoint thereby also causing the actual IAR pipe pressure to approach the setpoint.

Abstract: A brake valve system for a pair of railroad freight cars mechanically connected together in a substantially semi-permanent manner. Each of such pair of freight cars has a brake pipe pneumatically connected together. The brake valve system comprises a brake control valve disposed on a first one of such pair of cars and is pneumatically connected to the brake pipe and to a reservoir disposed on the first one of the pair for applying and releasing brakes disposed on both of the pair of freight cars. A vent valve is disposed on a second one of the freight cars and is pneumatically connected to the brake pipe disposed on the second one of the pair of cars for emergency venting of air from the brake pipes of the pair of cars for emergency application of the brakes of the pair of cars.

Abstract: A two piece hand brake release handle for a railway car hand brake mechanism having a relatively long lever one end of which is rotably fitted onto a rotatable brake release post extending from the hand brake mechanism, such that manual rotation thereof will not cause rotation of the brake release post, and a relatively short lever arm tightly fitted onto the brake release post such that rotation thereof will cause rotation of the brake release post, with the relatively short lever arm having an arm engaging flange extending transversely to receive and engage the relatively long lever arm such that manual rotation of the long lever arm in a given rotational direction will cause the long lever arm to engage the flange so that continued rotational movement of the long lever arm in the same rotational direction will cause rotational movement of the short lever arm, and accordingly, rotational movement of the brake release post as necessary to effect a brake release.

Abstract: A method of winding a fluid carrying coil for compact fluid heater utilizing dual lengths of metallic tubing wound in a bifilar manner to establish fluid flow internal of each tubing length such that when terminated from the coil outer periphery flow in the coil portion of each tubing length is in opposition. The bifilar design provides coil termination at the coil outer periphery.

Abstract: An brake application solenoid valve arrangement for use in an electronic freight train brake control system on a railway car. Such braking system having a brake pipe normally charged with fluid at a certain pressure, separate compartment auxiliary and emergency reservoirs charged at certain pressures with fluid from the brake pipe and a fluid pressure activated brake cylinder device. Flow of pressurized fluid from the separate auxiliary and emergency reservoirs can be selectively supplied concurrently to the brake cylinder device via the single brake application valve. Backflow check valves between each reservoir and the brake application valve prevent the transfer of pressurized fluid between the reservoirs. The electronic controller can operate the application valve to control the braking and release functions responsive to electrical command signals. A pneumatic control valve can also be operatively incorporated into the brake control system.

Abstract: A railroad brake line shutoff valve assembly for connecting a car mounted railway brake line to a brake line air hose. The assembly includes a shutoff valve with a stationary valve portion and a moveable valve portion. The stationary valve portion has a first fluid line attachment site and a second fluid line attachment site. Movement of the moveable valve portion to one position opens a flowpath through the valve between the first fluid line attachment site and the second fluid line attachment site. Movement of the moveable valve protion to another position closes the flowpath through the valve. The assembly includes a junction box having a first set of electric line attachment sites for connection of a set of car mounted electrical trainline conductors mounted on the railway vehicle and a second set of electric line attachment sites for connection of a set of electrical line end segments which terminate in a multiple contact electrical trainline connector.